Testing device



Jan. 4, 1927.

G. T. ANDERSON El AL 'TESTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 26. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

narran stares Parser ortica.

GREDTVELLE T. AN'JERSON, GF FLUSHNG,

EAST ORANGE, NEW' JERSEY, ASSTG-NR-S T0 AMERCAN TELEPHONE AND TELE- GRAPH COMTJANY, A GGRPORATTON F EW YORK.

NE'W YGRK, AND CABLETON V. TAPLIN, OF

TESTING QEVTCE.

Application filed September 26, 1924. Serial No. 740,116.

The present invention relates ,to te devices and more particularly to testin vices for testing a portion ot the equip ci' a telephone exchange system.

sting g dement ln telephone systems in which connections of automatic from taken care ol' by opkey sets for the connnection in the machine posishown and described in the circular ot the Bureau ot Standards No. 112, rTelephone Service,

page 118 and Figure 40 and the circuits ci' such key sets are disclosed in the patent No. 1,517,260, issued December Since the correct extension of through pendentkey set,

to F. A. Stearn, e, 192e.

calls such an operators position is deupon the correct operation of the it is the usual practice to arrange these keys in a special mounting so that one key set another. Heretot'ore,

may be readily substituted lfor the testing ot a key set suspected ot irregularities in operation has been a tedious and lengthy procedure. It is an obJect of the present invention to provide means tor quickly and eiiici ently testing such key sets for faulty wiring and adjustment.

A 'feature of the invention lies in the provision ot a test set equipped with a key-set mounting together with circuits and lamps whereby faulty wiring or adjustment of the keys may be readily detected.

In the drawing, Fig. and apparatus included in the test set.

1 shows the circuits Fig.

2 shows the circuits ot the key set under test. Fig. 3 is a top view ci the test set and Fig'. #l is a top view ot the key set partly broken away to show the mounting springs. The same reference characters have been applied to corresponding parts 3 and Figs. 2 and fl.

oi Figs. 1 is especially adapte though this test set testing would, key sets having a ditlerent nuinb-cr an rangement of keys.

Referring now to Figs.

d 'for the particular key set shown, it ot course, be easily adaptable for d ar- 2 and 4:, the key set is made up of tour rows of keys each row numbered from O to 9. Fach key has three sets of contact springs which are connected to the outgoing conductors and thence to the connecting springs according to a predetermined grouping arrangement. For eX- ample, the left-hand springs ol units keys Nos, 1, 3, l, 6, 8 and 9 are connected to conductor 247 while the lett-hand springs of units keys Nos. 5 and 7 are connected to conductor 249. Each outgoing conductor is connected to a particular onel of the set of mounting and connecting springs 240.

Referring to the test set as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a. key set mounting is provided consisting or a frame into which the key set lits and a set of connecting springs 140, each of which makes contact with one of the mounting and connecting springs of set Q40 ot th-e key set. lt may be noted that the key set conductors and the test set conductors, which are connected together by means of the springs when the key set is in the mounting, have been given the same lnumber in successive hundreds. Two switches are provided; test switch 131, which controls the connections from battery and ground to the other apparatus and dial switch 130 which permits the test ot each conductor of the key set in turn. A set oie lamps 170 is pro vided which serves to indicate which circuits are being closed, and whether vsuch circuits are closed in the correct or incorrect operation of the key set. Key 133 is used for testing the release magnets. Although in Fig. 1, battery and ground are, for simplicity, shown directly connected to the various parts of the apparatus, in practice they will be connected to the test set by means of a plug such as 135, as shown in Fig. 3.

When it is desired to test a key set it is removed from the mounting in the key shelf and inserted in the mounting lll() of the test set. The .set is first tested for crosses which may occur in the wiring or between the key springs and the mounting or other- After any such faults have been corwise. rectec, it is then tested for breaks in the wiring or failure of the key springs to make Contact when the keys are depress-ed, after which the release ot the keys by the release magnets is tested.

lllhile testing the key set for crosses, switch 131 is placed in its middle or TG position. l/Vith switch 131 in this position lli) ` through the upper Contact et test and switch 130 in its normal position, as shown, battery is connected through test switch springs 125, 126, 127 and 128 and lamps 171 to 192, inclusive, to conductors 141 to 162, inclusive. and thence over the mounting springs to key set conductors 241 to 262, inclusive. It will be noted that conductor 263 is connected to conductor 262 by means of common row cont-acts 206, 207, 208 and 209 and that conductor 241 is connected with conductor through the release magnets 202, 203, 204 and 205 in parallel so that battery is connected to each conductor ot the key set. The frame ot' the key set mounting is connected to ground loy means of conductor and spring It any conductor or key spring makes contact with the mounting trame, the circuit ot the lamp connected with that conductor will he completed to ground and that lamp Will loe lighted. For example, suppose the left Contact ot hundreds key No. 9 has hecome hent so that it touches the trame, a circuit would then exist trom battery switch spring 128, contact ot testswitch spring 1.25, lamp 176, conductor 146 key set conductor 246, left cont-act ot hundreds key No. 9, frame of key set, conductor 232, spring 132 to ground causing lamp 176 to light.

The switch 130 will next he moved to its No. 1 position in which position a circuitinay be traced 'from ground, contact et test switch springs 103 and 104, brush ot switch 130 and its No. 1 terminal, upper contact of test switch spring 106, contact ot test switch spring 105, througa lamp 171, upper contact of test switch spring 128 to attery causing lamp 171 to he lighted. rlhis circuit also connects ground to conductor 141, shunting the battery supplied thereto through lamp 171 and grounding conductor 241 in the key set. It no crosses exist between conductor 241 and other conductors in the key set lamp 171 alone will he lighted. lt', on the contrary, such crosses exist, say with conductor 263, a circuit will exist from ground on conoiictor 241 over conductor 263 to common row contacts 206, 207, 208 and 209, conductorl 262, mounting springs, conductor 162, lamp 192, upper contact et test switch spring 128 to battery, and lamp 192 will he lighted in addition to lamp 171 indicating that conductor or 263 is crossed with conductor 241.

Wlhen switch 130 engages its No. 2 terminal, the circuit of lamp 172 is completed from battery, test switch springs 128 and 126, lamp 172, No 2 contact and brush o'lI switch 130 to ground as previously traced. Ground will also he connected from the brush ot switch 130 over its No. 2 contact tho7conductors 142 and 1t no crosses exist lamp 172 alone will he lighted, while the lighting' of an additional lamp or lamps will indicate that the corresponding conductor is crossed with conductor FollowinOv 1s a table showing the conductor connected to ground and the lamp normally lighted tor each position ot switch Position Key set Lamp o1' switch conductor normally 130 grounded lighted Frame. None 1 241 and 264 171 2 242 1.72 3 243 173 4 244 174 5 245 175 6 246 176 7 247 177 8 248 178 9 249 179 10 250 180 11 251 181 12 252 182 13 253 183 14 254 184 15 255 185 16 256 186 17 257 187 18 258 188 19 259 189 20 260 190 21 261 191 22 262 and 263 192 The switch is moved slowly from po sition to position allowing it to remain in each position long' enough for the corresponding lamp to come to full brilliance. Any other lamps which may he lighted are noted. l,Vhen all the conductors have been tested switch 130 is restored, the key set removed from its mounting and all crosses which have been noted removed, atter which a check test is usually made to insure that no crosses have been left.

The key set is now tested to see whether the keys close the proper circuits when operated. rPest switch 131 is moved to its righthand or T0 position and in this posit-ion, hatteify is connected through test switch spring 128 to lamps 171, 187, 190 and. 192. The circuit ot lamp 171 is open at test switch Contact 105 and hence is not concerned in this test. The circuito'f lamp 187 is eX- tended to conductor 157 and by way of test switch springs 111, 116, and 117 to conductors 154, 151 and 148 respectively. The circuit olf lamp 190 is extended to conductor 160 and by way of test switch springs 107, 115, 119, 122 and 124 to conductors 161, 150, 11516, 144 and 143 respectively. The circuit ot lamp 12 is extended to conductor 162. In this position test switch 131 also connects ground through springs 101, 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 114, 118, 120, 121 and 123 to condud-ers ici, i159, 15s, isc, 155, 153, 152, 149.y 147, 145 and 142 respectively. Summarizing and taking into consideration the tact that each mounting spring connects a test set conductor with a key set conductor hearing the corresponding number in the next hundred, we find that key set conductors 212. 245, 247, 249, 252, 253, 255, 256, 258, 259 and 264-are connected to ground, and conductor-S 2113, 241, 246, als, 250, 251 254, 257, 26o,

Numerical keys.

Thous. H und. Units.

Tens. i i

Tesi lam ps.

Test lamps.

Test lamps. 190- -192 190- 190- -192 190-187-192 190-187-192 190-187-192- 190-187-192 190-187-192 Test lamps. -192 Having completed the test for correct operation of the keys, made any adjustments necessary and checked them, the operation ot the release feature is next tested. vSwitch 131 is moved to its lett-hand or TKR position. In this position battery is connected over the lower contact ot test switch spring` 128, through lamp 193 to conductors 163 and 263 and disconnected trom all ot the other lamps. Ground is connected over the test switch spring 102 to conductors 164 and 264. One key in each row ot keys is then depressed. lVhen the first key is depressed, say thousands key No. 9, a circuit is completed from battery through lamp 193, conductor 163. conductor 263, common row contacts 207, 208 and 209, outer right-hand contact and spring of thousands key No. 9, con ductor 264 to ground on conductor 164. Lamp 193 lights. As each key is depressed, the common row contact corresponding to such key is opened so that when one key in the thousands, hundreds, tens and units rows has been depressed, .common row contacts 206. 207, 208 and 209 will have been opened and lamp 193 willk be extinguished. Key 133 will then be operated closing a circuit trom battery, Contact ot key 133, lower contact ot test switch spring 106, conductor 141T conductor 241, through release magnets 202, 203, 204 and 205 in parallel, conductor 264,

v conductor 164, contact ot test switch spring 102 to ground. The release magnets should operate releasing all the keys. It any one ot the keys tails to release the lamp 193 Will again light over acontactot the operated key and the circuit previously described indicating that thc releasing mechanism ot the key set requires adjusting.

It will be seen trom'the foregoing description that the test set ot the present invention permits the rapid and simple testing ot key sets, therefore making feasible the frequent testing oit key sets and consequently improving` the service given by the operators using such sets.

llJhat is claimed is:

1,11 test set, tor testing an operator-s key set made up ot more than live individually operable keys in a mountingeach key havii'ig a plurality ot contact springs, comprising variably operable apparatus, means to simultaneously associate the terminals ot' the key springs ot all keys in Said mounting with said apparatus, means under the control. ot said apparatus to variably test said key set. and signaling means also un er the control ot said apparatus to indicate faults in said key set.

2. ln a testing device tor testing an operators key set made up ot mechanically locked and electrically released keys, means tor mounting said key set having a trame for receiving said key set and a plurality ot springs tor making electrical connection with the conductors ot' said key set, a test switch and means under the control of said test switch when in one position to test said key set tor cross connections, When in another position to test for incomplete connections and when in a third position to test the means for releasing the keys ot said key set.

' 3. In a testing device tor testing an operators key set, means tor mounting said key set having a `trame for receiving said key set and a plurality ot springs for making electrical connection With the conductors ot said key set, means ttor testing said key set tor crosses comprising a switch for preparing a circuit over each ot' the key Conductors ot said kcy set in turn which may he completed only by means ot such crosses and means indicating over Which conductor the circuit has been completed.

4. ln a testing device for testing an operatorls key set, means 'tor mounting said key set having a trame tor receiving said key set and a. plurality of springs for making electrical connection With the conductors ot' said key set, a plurality of lamps, means tor applying loattery through said lamps to all ot the key conductors of said key set, means tor grounding each ot said conductors in turn and means comprising said lamps tor indicating which conductor is so grounded. tor indicatingr Whether a cross exists between said grounded conductor and any other conductor and Which conductor is so crcssed.

in a testing device tor testing an oper-` ator-s key set, means tor nmnntingsaid key set having a trame 'toi-receiving said key set ind a plurality ot springs for making elecrical connection with the conductors ot said rey set, means crosses comprising a switch tor applying battery to all of thc key conductors ot said tor testing said key set for key set, a second switch for zipplyinn' ground to eeeh of said Conduct-ors in turn and u group of lamps for indicating which concluetor has been grounded and Wheh concluetors if any, :1re crossed with said grounded conductor.

6.' In u testing device 'for testing an oper- :itors key set, seid key set Comprising more than tive keys in e. common frame, en eli key having :i plurzzlty oi' Contact springs and associe ed Conductors, means for mounting,r said key set comprising means Jfor connecting with the Contactv springs ot said key set5 ineens Yfor applyne' v ground to the frame of suifl key set` means tosimultaneously e) ply battery to all of said Contact springs, and means ter iurlieetinfr the existence of Crosse between .ff-nifl Contact springs or said conductors and said frame.

7. in a testing.,r device for testing' z n operators key set, said key set comprising a plurality or' looking keys arranged in rows and a plurality of magnets for releasing` said keys, means for mounting` said key set comprising a frame for receiving said key set and e plurality of springs for making electrical connection with the conductors of said key set, a lamp, means for lighting said lamp in response to the depression of one of seid keys, said lamp being extinguished when e key lies been depressed in each of said rows of keys, means for energizing said` releasing n'iegnets and means for relighting said lamp' if said releasing magnets fail to release all of said depressed keys.

ln testimony whereof. We have signed our names to this specification this 25th Clay of September i924,

GREYVLLE T. ANDER-SON. CARLETON V. TAPLIN. 

